Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-11-04
THE CONTRACTION OF DIpuruERrA.
Means of Preyention-are the Guardians
of the Public Health Doing Their DUTY?

not from the surface o! the body as with
scarlet fever, measles aud smallpox.
Hence il is no. 50 frequently contagious,
as the material is not 30 abundant. When
given off from the surface of the body the
gerTs are lgh. and abundant, easily
floating in the surrounding atmosphere.
When given off from few square inches
OF membrane in the throat they are fewer
IN number and are moist and usually ac-
companed with discharge adhering to
linen and other garments with which
they come in contact. IL was formerly
believed thai dipbtheria was not cunta-
gious, as it did not spread rapidly like
smallpox and measles. 1t is n well es-
tablished fact, however, that the poison
germs OF dphtheria are Just rs sure to
reproduce the disease, whel they come in
contact with the mucous membrane OF
the throat as the germs of small box,
measles ana sCarletina are to reproduce
their respective diseases. II is also quite
PROBABLE that the poison of diphthevia is
capable OF increase in damp, foul places
such as sewers, damp cellars, detaying
masses OF vegetable matter which are
kept fermenting by frequent wetting,
such places being frequently found be
meath old decaying floors, and be-
meath old houses withou; cellars aud hav-
ing small, damp, illy-veniiated space
between floor and ground it is in such
houses that the germs of disease liucer
year alter year. When once the disease
is introduced into dwelling 1t is often
kept for Il long time and infect.s the other
members of the household, under the
very poor hygieuic conditions.
The poison of diphther!a is Just as dis
tnct ana deadly as that of smallpox and
requires Just as active means for It's de-
struction and prevention. The results OF
well directed efforts 10 prevent the spread
OF the contagion are commonly as salts
factory. The germ theory of contagious
and infectious diseases is we'll established
and gersicldents and disiufectau;s for
the destruction OF these are numerous.
cheap and easily used yet il not properly
pie, the most popular and frequently
used dlsintectanl among the people gener-
ally IS gas from burning sulphur
The usual plan pursued by people who
know nothing of the requirements of a
disinfectant or tlc potency OF the sub
stance used IS TO place from one-fourth
to one pound of sulphur in a dish CON
talning some combuStible material and
set 1t on fire, the doors and windows be-
ing closed and left so for an hour or two
this one process answering for the whole
house.
successful, 1t is necessary to burn three
pounds of sulphur TO every 1909 cubic feet
| OF air space; hence room 10 feet square
and 10 feet high would require the burn-
ing of three pounds of sulphur. In addi
ton the room should be tightly closed all
! cracks and crevices through which the
fumes could escape should he stopped
with cloths or cotton nloistened with some
dlsinfecting solution. The lphur should
be moistened with alcoho! ta insure its
rapid and complete combustion. The
room should remain closed for two hours
Solutions of OF chloride OF lime, carbo!c
acid, sulphate OF copper and corrosive sub
Innate are all valuable disiufectants, but
experiments have shown they must
be used in proper manner and of Ger
tain strength, otherwise they are of little
use. Deodorizlng and fumigatng may
overcome or destroy a bad odor, but 1t
usually has no effect whatever upon the
germs OF disease; cesspools, sewers, slop-
sinks, poor drainage and damp cellars are
fertile fields for disease germs, but the
odor emanatiug from such places is not
due to the presence of such germs The
poison of contagious diseases cannot be
detected by any odor. Often it is the case
that some offensive cesspool, water closet
or drainage gets the credit Of originating
and spreading a contagious disease, and
the real source IS entirely overlooked.
While such uusanitary conditions require
prompt action for their correction 1t is
much more important that all premises
that have the poison of diphtheria or
scarletina about them should be thorough
ly Observation-Disclosures offensive odors exist
or not. A family may have their home in
perfect order, sanitary conditions perfect,
with no possible chance of originating or
spreading contagious disease, yet with
the present conditlon of things they are
not protected from the germs OF contagious
diseases, especially IL any member OF the
family Is employed in any way which
brings them in contact with the general
public.
Several cases Of diphtheria have recent
ly occurred In different parts of the city,
and few deaths have resulted. am in
formed that these cases, or most Of them,
are reported to the health department.
and that little or nothing has been done to
stamp out or prevent tie spread of the
disease. There is little or no isolation of
patients, no quarantine OF families and in
some Instances children have been per-
United to attend school while some mem
Der of the family had diphtheria. Per
sons who have been in close attendance
upon malignant cases OF diphtheria 90
about without change of garments or
proper disinfecting Of clothes or person
Certain localities where diphtheria has
broken out during the past few years
should be thoroughly investigated and
some means used TO prevent Il recurrence.
All premises where the disease has occur
red, be it one or more cases, light or NAL
ignant, should be thoroughly and properly
disinfected ut the expense of the city if
need be. About the only expense would
be the employment of man who would
thoroughly and conscieutiously perform
his duty.
Physicians in attendance may use prop
er measures TO disintect and prevent
spread of the disease. But they do this in
Il general way and have 10 authority to
enforce obedience, and they cannot be eX-
pected to perform the duties that belong
toanother department. The matter must
he attended 10 in detail and no one has
the authority except the board of health.
The State board Of health, which has
been in existence about one year has
made strong endeavors to receive and i'm
part information in regard to contagious
and infectious diseases throughout the
State.
They caused to be printed list of ques-
tons which were sent to nearly All the
physicians in the State. These questions
when properly answered would give YalU
able Information as 10 the location and
cause of such diseases bat out of the 800